TechRadar's reviewers don't take the summer off. Oh no, they've been as busy as ever, testing gadgets of all shapes and sizes to bring you our top recommendations for the products worth buying... and the ones to avoid. In this month's Reviews Recap, I've rounded up our top-rated tech of the past four weeks. These are the products that made it through our tough tests and earned a score of 4.5 or above.

In the five-star camp, we have two standout pieces of content creator kit. The Insta360 X6 won us over with its rugged build, lengthy battery life, and ability to capture pin-sharp images in any lighting conditions. Our tester called it "the most capable small 360 camera [he's] tested to date" and "the finest all-round performer in its class".

DJI also continues on its winning streak with the Mic Mini 2S. This compact wireless mic offers many of the flagship Mic 3's most appealing features — from internal recording to AI noise cancellation — but comes in at around half the price. It makes no sense, but we'll take it.

Elsewhere, we were impressed by Samsung's new foldable phones, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra both earning a near-perfect 4.5 stars. We declared the former "a shot in the arm for the foldables market" and our roaming editor argued the latter was "virtually unbeatable" when compared to other flagships.

Scroll down to check out all of our top-rated gadgets from the past four weeks, across all of our physical product categories. Click the 'View details' button for a summary of our main takeaways for each product, plus a link to read the full review. Note: only the products that are available in your region will display as cards.

5-star products

4.5-star products

Lithium-ion batteries are one of the most successful technologies ever invented, and now span everything from smartphones to power stations — but the technology is not without its flaws and limitations, and scientists are now busy trying to figure out which type of next-gen battery will take over next.

One of the big safety risks with lithium-ion is thermal runaway, causing overheating and fires, and some future battery technologies are focusing on this in particular. One of the leading contenders, sodium-ion, just passed a major safety test at Hyundai, while this battery type is also showing lots of promise overall.

Here's what you need to know about the recent breakthrough we've seen with sodium-ion technology, what its benefits are more broadly, and how it might eventually overtake lithium-ion as the default battery chemistry of choice.

Hyundai, Unigrid, and the thermal runway

We know that lithium-ion batteries are a fire risk, and that's specifically where a US start-up called Unigrid is directing its attention. The company has developed a type of sodium-ion battery, using sodium chromium oxide (NCO) cell chemistry, which has just been given the safety seal of approval by South Korean giant Hyundai.

According to Unigrid (via Interesting Engineering), the batteries have now achieved "critical technology validation milestones" after being put to the test by Hyundai's technical evaluation program. Stringent safety experiments were completed with no fire and no thermal propagation (where fire spreads between batteries, an important consideration in factories and industrial use).

What's more, the sodium-ion NCO batteries showed "minimal capacity degradation" after sustained continuous cycling, while the units also held up under a wide range of temperatures: from -20C to 60C (that's -4F to 140F). This is only one set of tests in a limited number of scenarios, but the tech has passed with an excellent grade.

The key change here is given away in the name: sodium ions rather than lithium ions are shuttling between the positive electrode (cathode) and negative electrode (anode). Both battery technologies have actually been around for about the same length of time, but the superior energy density of lithium-ion is why it's won out in recent years. Now sodium-ion is increasingly being looked at again.

As well as potentially improved safety from a thermal runaway perspective, another key difference is that sodium is much more abundant and widely available than lithium is. That's becoming a more important consideration as the planet creaks under increasing environmental strain, and it means the raw materials are more affordable (though the overall cost of sodium-ion batteries remains higher than lithium-ion for now).

There's still a lot of work to do, as a 2026 review published in the Journals of Materials Chemistry A points out. The energy density problem remains, for example, which makes sodium-ion a more viable option for large-scale energy storage, rather than the batteries we've got inside our phones and tablets.

The future of sodium-ion

With all of that in mind, the thinking is that sodium-ion is more likely to exist alongside lithium-ion, at least in the shorter term. While the new batteries like those developed by Unigrid have plenty of potential, there are also plenty of challenges that need addressing.

As reported in Nature, the world's largest battery manufacturer CATL has announced that it'll start mass producing sodium-ion batteries before the end of 2026. The Chinese manufacturer says it has deals in place with both a car maker and a provider of energy-storage stations for electricity grids.

However, the sodium-ion ingredient mix is different in the CATL batteries: it's using a sodium-ion technology known as Prussian white, which is potentially cheaper to make, easier to manufacture at scale, and longer-lasting, though there are questions over the energy density of these batteries.

The good news is that rapid progress is being made in the areas where sodium-ion batteries still fall short. Researchers are looking closely at the different mixtures and chemical combinations that might work best for this — and some scientists have even floated the idea of removing the fixed anode materials in the battery altogether (so rechargeable batteries would work more like disposable batteries).

There are a lot of variables involved, from the stability of the world economy to the power demands that AI data centers continue to put on global energy networks, but we can expect to hear about plenty more breakthroughs with sodium-ion battery technology in the coming years.

"Sodium-ion batteries have emerged as a compelling alternative to lithium-ion systems, particularly for stationary storage and cost-sensitive mobility applications," writes Abu Faizal Abdul Salam et al in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. "Continued efforts in materials research, standardization of testing methodologies, and real-world validation are pivotal to accelerate their path toward commercialization."

This week, Nokia launched new retro phones, and we got an extended look at GTA 6.

To catch up on all of this and plenty more, scroll down for our recap of the week’s biggest tech news stories.

And if you want to test your memory of last week’s news, try our quiz and see if you can get full marks.

7. Nokia debuted new retro phones

The original Nokia may be gone, but its spirit lives on under its new HDM Global owner — and this week we welcomed the new Nokia 300 Charge, a dumbphone that’s brimming with handy features.

There are no touchscreens or apps here, which potential buyers will consider a good thing. But the 300 Charge does have a handy power bank mode, which lets you charge up other gadgets via its USB-C port. If you want an emergency camping phone, it also has a “high-power” LED flashlight.

Sadly, there’s no international pricing for the 300 Charge yet, but it is showing on HMD’s global website — so we will hopefully see this practical, anti-doomscrolling phone get a worldwide launch.

• Read the full story: Nokia’s latest retro feature phone comes with a super-bright flashlight and built-in power bank

6. We went to Gamescom

This week we’ve been at Gamescom, and it was a treat.

There was the unusual batch of conferences like Gamescom Opening Night Live and the Future Games Show which showcased exciting new games and updates like our very first look at the highly anticipated The Witcher 3 Songs of the Past DLC.

We saw some incredible new hardware like a ridiculously fast 1100Hz OLED monitor, and the goofy IKEA x Xbox collection — plus so much more.

• Read the full story: Everything announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026

5. Meta settled its $1.4 trillion case

Meta has reached a settlement in a landmark social media trial that could have seen it pay out the company’s entire market cap had it lost. The case, which was brought by several states’ Attorneys General, alleged that Meta’s products were designed to addict teens and may have caused them mental harm.

Without admitting any wrongdoing or fault, Meta will instead pay a more modest $18 billion, and has agreed to several self-imposed restrictions such as hiding likes on teens’ profiles, an optional algorithm-free feed, and a two-hour daily time limit (cumulative across Instagram and Facebook) — though this limit would drop to one hour if TikTok, Snap and YouTube also agree to self-regulate.

Some aren’t convinced this is anything more than another slap on the wrist, but perhaps this effort will finally curtail our social media addiction epidemic.

• Read the full story: Meta settles its alleged social media harm case for $18B

4. The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro launched

It’s been a big week for Garmin fans and anyone who likes gloriously powerful adventure watches. Two new Garmin flagships, the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro, arrived for hiking duty — and we’ve already taken the latter out on a 12 km trip in the French Alps.

Garmin’s Fenix 8 was already packed with features, but its successor brings some meaningful upgrades. One standout is ‘Garmin Epic’, which helpfully combines your stats across big trips like multi-day backpacking excursions. We also like the Fenix 9 Pro’s new green light for boosting our camping night vision. For an in-depth debrief, check out our hands-on review below.

• Read the full story: I wore the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro on a 12km hike and run in the French Alps

3. We watched GTA 6’s Extended Look

Gamers, we ate good this week as, on top of Gamescom, we also got the Extended Look at Grand Theft Auto6, and any complaints about the Netflix debut washed (mostly) away as we saw the game in the fullest glory we’ve seen thus far.

Explosive action, intense car chases, character swapping, beautiful lighting, an expansive map, tense story moments, and the return of the six-star rating.

Not everyone was impressed, but there are always haters online. For most, GTA 6 looks like the best yet, and it can’t come soon enough.

• Read the full story: Grand Theft Auto 6's 'Extended Look' on Netflix is now live

2. Apple announced a new Mac Mini

Back in 2024, Apple revived the Mac mini with a sportier, more compact design and an M4 chip. And this week it came back for generation two.

Apple stuck with the same chassis that doesn’t skimp on ports, but upgraded the internals with either the M6, which is Apple’s first 2nm chip, or the M5 Pro for those who need an even more substantial setup.

The downside? The Mac mini with M6 starts at $899 / £899 / AU$1,449 for 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM — that's a $100 increase in the US over the current price of the M4 model — while the M5 Pro starts at $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,699 with 512GB of storage and 24GB of RAM.

• Read the full story: Apple’s new Mac mini looks the same, but the M6 inside brings a major performance boost

1. Apple invited us to ‘Surprise and Shine’

The most eagerly anticipated Apple Event of the year — if not in recent years — finally has a day, September 9, and a time, 10AM PST. This is the moment when we will watch freshly minted CEO John Ternus run his first Apple keynote and, we think, finally meet the iPhone Ultra, a.k.a. the folding iPhone.

That’ll probably be the event’s “one more thing,” but there will be so many other things like new iPhone 18 Pro phones, a new HomePod mini, an updated Apple TV box, Apple Watch Series 12, and so much more. It’s set to be a jam-packed event. We’ll have a team on the ground and back at TechRadar home base covering it all on Wednesday. Buckle in!

• Read the full story: Apple reveals when to tune into its September event and teases what’s coming

Finding gifts for a dad who wants nothing can be surprisingly difficult. If he already buys the things he needs, says he doesn't want any more stuff or is simply hard to shop for, another novelty mug or gadget destined for a drawer probably isn't the answer.

For Father's Day, I've focused on useful tech that earns its place: things that solve an everyday annoyance, upgrade something Dad already uses or make one of his hobbies a little better. That could be anything from a compact charger or tracker to better headphones, coffee gear or fitness tech.

I've also kept the list practical rather than filling it with products just because they look giftable. As much as possible, the recommendations are gear TechRadar has tested or recommended, along with options that are on sale, so offer particularly good value right now.

The picks cover a mix of budgets and interests, including a few easy last-minute options, so there should be something here whether Dad needs a small upgrade or you want to buy him a more substantial gift.

If you want some extra inspiration, Amazon's bestsellers are an easy place to see what other shoppers are buying, while its electronics bestsellers are particularly handy for inexpensive USB cables, chargers, power banks and other tech essentials.

If you've left it too late for delivery, our last-minute Father's Day gift ideas cover gift cards and other no-delivery options you can buy right away.

Quick gift ideas for the dad who wants nothing

• Best everyday gift: Iniu P50 45W 10,000mAh power bank – AU$29.99
• Best affordable gift: Iniu 2m USB-C cable – AU$11.39
• Best practical upgrade: 70mai A510 dash cam – AU$179.98
• Best last-minute gift: Anker Nano Charger 70W – AU$49.98
• Best for coffee lovers: De'Longhi Dedica Arte Espresso Machine – AU$196.95
• Best splurge: Ninja Swirl by Creami – AU$354.99

Useful tech he'll actually use every day

The safest gifts for a dad who says he wants nothing are often the ones that make everyday life a little easier. I've focused on practical tech he'll reach for every day rather than something that's only useful once or twice a year.

Upgrades he'll appreciate but probably won't buy himself

Dad might already have earbuds, a desk setup, some basic car tech and home-security gear, but that doesn't mean he's using a particularly good version of any of it.

These ideas are worthwhile upgrades to things he already uses, with the current discounts making the jump to higher quality a little more affordable.

Useful tech for his hobbies and downtime

If dad already has a hobby he loves, buying around that interest is often easier than trying to invent a new one for him. These gifts cover coffee, fitness, music, gaming and frozen desserts, so each has a clear recipient rather than simply being another gadget for the sake of it.

Last-minute Father's Day gifts that don't feel last minute

Leaving Father's Day shopping late doesn't mean settling for something forgettable. These final three gift options are inexpensive, broadly useful and easy to order without overthinking the purchase.

Amazon Prime can also be useful here, with next-day and, in some metro areas, same-day delivery available on eligible products, though the exact delivery date will depend on your location and the item you're buying.

How to choose a gift for a dad who wants nothing

If dad insists he doesn't need anything, start with what he already uses. A better version of his charger, headphones, shaver or coffee gear is often a safer bet than introducing an entirely new gadget, especially if you already know what works with the devices he owns.

Practical gifts for dad don't have to be boring — they just need to earn their place.

Another good approach is to solve a small annoyance. Think about the things he regularly complains about or works around, such as losing his keys, running out of phone battery, dealing with poor computer sound or using an old accessory that's well past its best.

A gift that fixes a real problem can feel more thoughtful than something chosen simply because it looks impressive in a gift guide.

Hobbies are another useful starting point, but it's usually best to buy around an interest rather than trying to choose highly personal specialist gear. A coffee upgrade, a fitness tracker, something useful for music or photography, or a gadget for the kitchen can be easier to get right than equipment where size, fit or personal preference matters.

Finally, be wary of novelty tech. If a gadget sounds clever but is likely to spend most of its life in a drawer, it's probably not the right choice for a dad who already says he wants nothing.

The best gifts for a dad who has everything are often straightforward upgrades he'll keep using long after Father's Day, Christmas or his birthday has passed. If you're hunting for last-minute gifts for dad, check the estimated delivery date as well as the price so a good gift doesn't arrive after you need it.

More gift ideas from TechRadar

Still not found the right present? These TechRadar guides are a good place to find more inspiration, whether you're shopping for a particular type of tech or just want to see more deals and recommendations.

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• Microduck is Pollen Robotics' new programmable robot
• It looks like a cute robo-duck, and has some adorable, pre-baked interactions
• It's up for pre-order priced at $399, and it should ship in time for Christmas

If the measure of a successful robot is cuteness, Microduck could be the most successful bot in ages. Unveiled this week by Pollen Robotics (a division of AI company Hugging Face — yes, that Hugging Face), Microduck is a 25-centimeter-tall educational robot that appears to arrive with surprising mobility, balance, and personality.

Pre-orders, which kicked off today (August 27) promise a $399 (that's the introductory price), roughly 1.7lb pre-built duck-like robot complete with a mouth that doubles as a gripper, a voice —duck calls, it seems — 15 degrees of freedom (basically a measure of the number of ways all the motors let it move), and motors that let it walk, waddle, move its head and, thanks to a pair of IMUs (inertial movement unit), stay upright even when pushed around.

There's a single-eye camera paired with a Lidar system for navigating its environment and, perhaps, recognizing its owner. Pollen Robotics has yet to specify the camera's megapixels. There are also speakers for voice, and microphones for it to hear. The robot runs on a relatively low-power Rockchip RK3566 ARM chip that's backed by 1GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board storage. There's on-board Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and a smallish 2,600mAh battery that promises roughly one hour of operation.

These are not killer specs, but the teaser videos show a highly engaged and undeniably adorable little bot. I was particularly taken with how it can recover and stand back up after a fall (or being pushed over). Microduck will arrive with a lot of pre-programmed interactions, but much of the cuteness may come via its open-source platform and your programming skills.

The Microduck kit will ship with an SDK that includes virtual training environments, along with training scripts and tools, and "a tested sim-to-real workflow." The idea, obviously, is that while you might grow to love Microducks' baked-in personality, it's what you can build with your kids that will really matter. This is an educational robot, after all.

It's almost familiar

It's also worth mentioning Microduck's obvious resemblance to another extremely cute, though entirely unattainable robot: Disney's and Star Wars' BDX Droid. Both robots are bipedal with a somewhat squat posture and cute, oversized heads, and as with the BDX-Droid, it's hard to believe the Microsoduck can stay upright. But that's where the similarities end. That semi-autonomous/remote-controlled BDX Droid is much larger, probably far more expensive, and is currently only wandering around Disney World. Plus, there are currently no plans to bring it to consumers.

The $399 Microduck is just the base package, and Pollen Robotics also plans to ship an optional charger pack for $39, a dev pack that includes spare motors, cables, and batteries for $119, and an accessory pack that includes a laser pointer (perhaps for Microduck to chase), roller skates(!) that Microduck can wear and ride, and 10 NFC tags. One wonders if those tags might be used to trigger certain Microduck actions.

Microduck is Pollen Robotics' second edu-robot, the first being the Reach Mini, an almost equally cute but more or less stationary desk companion robot. Pollen Robotics claims it sold 10,000 units.

Microduck's success will likely depend on just how many of those endearing qualities are on display out of the box, and how much we have to code ourselves. Initially, you can fake some of it, since Microduck can be remote-controlled with a gaming controller; but the real fun happens when it starts to respond in unexpected ways.

The other X factor is how many people are willing to pay almost $400 for a plastic and semi-autonomous robot duck. I know I'm intrigued, and wouldn't mind trying to program it to create the duck-bot of my dreams.

Microduck is expected to ship by Christmas, and is available in Cream, Graphite. Lavender, and Sky.

• United’s new Airbus A321XLR begins service soon, and it’s packed with tech
• It’ll mostly serve international, transatlantic routes with free Starlink-powered Wi-Fi
• The big surprise? Two Economy Plus rows with no middle seats

Just a few months back, I got to go inside United’s next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner, complete with a high-tech new interior, spacious seats, and some notable upgrades for Economy.

The 787 is a wide-body aircraft built for United’s biggest and longest routes, and now, the airline is bringing that same design philosophy to a much smaller plane and experimenting with something I’ve never seen on a United aircraft before: an Economy Plus row with no middle seat.

I’ve been inside United’s brand-new Airbus A321XLR, a single-aisle aircraft that’s designed to bridge the gap between narrowbody efficiency and widebody distance capabilities, and it’s a pretty fascinating look at where the airline’s cabins are headed.

There’s a new Polaris business-class seat with closing doors, a spacious Premium Plus cabin, 4K OLED screens at every seat, Starlink Wi-Fi from day one, and, yes, those two-seat Economy Plus rows, designed to give you a little more space without the dreaded middle seat.

And after spending time in all four cabins, I think United might be onto something.

Let’s start with the new Polaris business-class product. The A321XLR is a single-body aircraft with 20 Polaris seats, complete with closing doors on either the left or right side of the aircraft. They are pretty spacious, though a bit smaller than the Polaris seats on the 787 Dreamliner. Still, you get an ample seat with an electronic touchscreen control to let it lay flat, kick out the leg rest, or adjust many facets of the experience.

There are plenty of power ports, including two USB-C ports that top out at 60 watts, a standard wall plug, and a wireless charger. At the center of the experience is a 19-inch 4K OLED screen that’s touch-enabled and, with a button press, slightly pushes out from its base and lets you pull it forward for the perfect view. You’ll also find plenty of storage and a sizable tray table that I wish was a bit larger — still, it should fit a 14-inch laptop very comfortably.

That’s the most premium experience on board the A321XLR. The middle option of United’s three class offerings is Premium Plus, which features a very spacious recliner that rivals those in domestic first class on smaller single-body aircraft.

It boasts a 16-inch 4K OLED screen that can tilt and matches the size of the screen on the original Polaris product still in use on some aircraft. You’ll even find a wireless charger tucked under the armrest — a unique spot, but helpful. There’s also a standard wall plug for each seat — remember, Premium Plus is a 2x2 configuration — and a USB-C port tucked at the bottom of the OLED screen.

The tray table is pretty close to the size of what’s in Polaris and can be a good mini-desk for working in the sky, or, let’s be honest, enjoying whatever meal United is serving.

Finally, we move into Economy, which has a total of 118 seats split into 84 standard Economy and 34 Economy Plus extra-legroom options, including two with the middle seat removed.

With any of these seats, you get a punchy, vibrant 13-inch 4K OLED that’s touch-enabled; across the board, United is knocking it out of the park with the displays here. An intuitive interface offers plenty to watch, including Apple TV in the sky, plus access to music and podcasts from Spotify. A crisp, vibrant screen in each seatback will certainly elevate the experience everywhere.

United began the process of reintroducing screens on aircraft without them, and making them a key part of the ‘United Next’ cabin, back in 2021, and now the airline has close to 800 aircraft with screens in every seat, and should have a quarter of a million seat-back screens across its fleet by the end of next year.

Peter Wolkowski, United’s Head of Product Marketing, told me, “In our post-flight survey data, we just see kind of huge increases in satisfaction across the board when customers fly on an aircraft with screens versus one without.”

There’s a standard headphone jack and USB-C port built into every Economy and Economy Plus seat, meaning that every seat, even in Economy, gets at least one power source — that’s excellent. You also get two standard wall plugs per row, but those are shared.

Economy Plus with open middle seats is where the experimentation comes into play — it was my first time seeing these, and especially for a transatlantic flight, which are the routes the A321XLR will primarily be flying, if the price is right, it could really be worth the upgrade.

The main appeal is no one next to you in the middle, and for couples flying, this is pretty nice. You get plenty of elbow room, and the middle seat essentially has a metal table bolted across it, with two indents for cupholders and a padded rear.

I’m very curious to see pricing for these, and how much of a premium they command over standard Economy Plus.

United is starting with only two of these rows on the aircraft, but if they prove popular, I wouldn’t be surprised if the airline expands this offering. Peter Wolkowski, United’s Head of Product Marketing, told me, “There’s a lot to love about this aircraft, but just having the ability to kind of test new concepts is really exciting.”

“We’re really eager to see how customers respond to [the open middle seat option], and if it is something that kind of performs well and customers love it, we’re going to look at more ways of doing that type of thing on other aircraft.”

I hope we continue to see this kind of experimentation with new seat types, and at affordable price points, rather than airlines just prioritizing the top end.

Rounding out the United A321XLR offering is 'Starlink from the start', meaning the plane is equipped with the right antennas and routers, as well as the proper certification, to offer Starlink Wi-Fi from its very first flights.

This means that any MileagePlus members can get free, fast Wi-Fi for as many devices as they bring, and in my testing, both on media flights and regular ones, it really improves the overall flying experience. No longer is there a concern about not being able to connect, whether that’s when you’re sending a text to a loved one or friend, or something else that requires a connection.

The A321XLR also features mood lighting, which United can split up by cabin — i.e., Polaris, Premium Plus, or Economy — to help set the mood for different parts of the flight, but also to potentially help combat jet lag.

So when does the A321XLR begin flying, and where is it headed?

Alongside the launch event at a hangar at Newark Liberty International Airport, United also announced new routes, and the A321XLR is a key part of them.

Starting September 1, 2026, the A321XLR begins with domestic flights, but later this year, the aircraft formally kicks off its international routes. In total, United announced 10 entirely new international destinations and 13 new routes for 2027.

The new routes are San Francisco to Okinawa, Japan; Washington Dulles to Toulouse, France; and several for Newark. The latter includes Newark to Luxembourg City; Marseille, France; Ibiza, Spain; Valencia, Spain; Terceira, Portugal; Ljubljana, Slovenia; Olbia (Sardinia), Italy; and Catania (Sicily), Italy.

If you like the idea of a flight on the Airbus A321XLR, it’ll be headed to Luxembourg from Newark, Washington, DC; to Toulouse from Newark; to Ibiza from Newark; to Valencia from Newark; and to Marseille from Newark.

Garmin watches often see attractive price cuts as summer winds down, especially this year, as the brand gears up to release the Fenix 9 and Fenix 9 Pro this Friday. I've headed to Amazon's end-of-summer Garmin sale to hand-pick today's 12 best deals.

• Shop more of Amazon's best daily deals

The retailer has up to $250 in savings on Garmin's top-rated watches for running, swimming, hiking, and everyday wear. Garmin watches are the perfect companion for outdoor enthusiasts, thanks to their robust features, durable build, long battery life, and GPS capabilities. These capabilities come with an expensive price tag, so discounts are always welcome.

Below are Amazon's best Garmin watch deals, organized by price, starting at just $129. You'll find everything from our best premium Garmin watch, the Fenix 8, at a record-low $749.99 to our best outdoor watch, the Garmin Instinct 3, for $299. Just remember, these are limited-time offers and a great chance to grab a new premium watch at an all-time-low price.

The best Garmin smartwatch deals under $200

The best Garmin smartwatch deals under $300

The best Garmin smartwatch deals under $500

The best Garmin smartwatch deals $500 or more

Samsung's summer clearance sale is slashing prices on its best-selling TVs, so you can score a brand-new display at a record-low price. You can save over $1,000 on Samsung 4K, QLED, and OLED TVs, with prices starting at just $129.99.

• Shop Samsung's full summer clearance sale

I've listed Samsung's 12 best summer clearance TV deals below, which include a range of top-rated TVs, from premium 2026 OLED displays to big-screen budget sets and Samsung's new lineup of Micro RGB displays.

A few standout deals that offer incredible value include Samsung's popular 50-inch 4K Crystal TV on sale for $249.99, the stunning 55-inch The Frame QLED TV on sale for $799.99, and Samsung's new 75-inch Micro RGB R85H 4K TV at its lowest price ever of $1,899.99.

Shop more of today's best TV deals below, and keep in mind these are limited-time offers, and Samsung offers free, fast shipping.

Samsung Summer Clearance Sale

This week, the GTA 6 leak rocked the internet, and Meta entered a $1.4 trillion lawsuit that could reshape social media as we know it.

To catch up on both of these events and more, scroll down to read our recap of the week’s seven biggest tech news stories.

Before that, test your memory of last week’s biggest news with our quiz (and check out our previous recap for a refresh if you need it).

7. Amazon ruined the Kindle Oasis?

A Kindle Oasis update has ruined the ereader for many, thanks to a change that has frustrated users.

The first change applies stricter DRM (Digital Rights Management) to books on the device, meaning most DRM-removal tools won’t work anymore. While DRM can help fight piracy, it also makes it harder to share the book with non-Kindle ereaders (or ereaders without the Kindle app) if you ever want to take your library with you when you change devices. This update isn’t new, but the Oasis was one of the last few to not have it.

The other change means you can’t keep reading a Libby book beyond its due date by turning airplane mode on. The workaround let users hold onto borrowed books, but now the app requires an internet connection to read your titles.

• Read the full story: Amazon angers Kindle owners by rolling out tougher DRM

6. The UK got ready for plug-in solar

Plug-in solar kits are a hot topic in both the US and the UK, with the latter planning to legalize the low-cost home energy helpers on August 27. Ahead of that date next week, we’ve started to see the first kits get the regulatory green light.

UKSOL makes some of those kits and this week revealed that its first two offerings (a 460W one consisting of a single solar panel, and an 890W dual-panel setup) will go on sale from August 27, with pricing starting at £699. Not exactly cheap, but a lot more affordable than a full solar installation.

Expect plug-in solar to be all over the news next week in the UK — and with 30 US states also planning to legalize the tech, the DIY energy boom could soon become a global story.

• Read the full story: First plug-in solar kits get regulatory green light in the UK ahead of legal lift-off on August 27 — and they'll start at £699

5. Tesla’s Robotaxi had a bad day

With impressive comic timing, Tesla’s Robotaxi was this week filmed plowing through some plastic traffic posts in Texas before carrying on with its journey — just weeks after Tesla had been crowing about its “impeccable safety record” with “zero notable incidents”.

Okay, the video shot by the Robotaxi’s distressed passenger doesn’t exactly show a GTA 6-style pile-up, but the timing is poor, with Tesla also reportedly planning to trial its fully autonomous Cybercab on public roads this month. We might carry on taking those human-driven cabs for a little while longer.

• Read the full story: Tesla’s Robotaxi gets caught crashing through traffic posts, just as it readies the purpose-built Cybercab for public roads

4. Grand Theft Auto 6 leaked

The most hotly anticipated game of 2026 was due to get a major reveal via a Netflix special next week, but Christmas has come early, so to speak, as several major leaks came out this week — including GTA 6’s map, new gameplay, and cutscenes.

Hacker group Cyberleek has claimed responsibility for the breach as a protest against Rockstar’s digital-only release strategy. Even physical disc cases will include only a digital download code.

However, this data dump might not completely spoil Rockstar and Netflix’s announcement plans. It seems at least some of the leaks are over a year old, according to people with information on the subject, though the polish was quite high, so it’s unclear how different the end result will actually be.

• Read the full story: More GTA 6 leaks reveal new gameplay and the entire map — and leaker keeps their promise over threats to reveal more

3. Meta’s smart glasses bans continued

While governments are weighing up how they’ll deal with the rise of smart glasses and the privacy concerns they’re raising (as pervs and creeps use them to spy on people), it seems their action might not be required.

That’s because we’re seeing more and more private businesses announce bans on the glasses across various spaces, including pubs, cafes, and restaurants — UK cinemas and regular theatres are even considering banning the camera glasses, though their concerns are also focused on piracy (where folks could record or even livestream a movie).

It seems Meta’s Ray-Bans have a tough road ahead. Perhaps things will eventually turn around at Connect in September.

• Read the full story: Meta smart glasses could soon be banned in cinemas, says UK trade body

2. Meta might owe $1.4 trillion

We’re used to company fines often pales in comparison to the profits and growth the business made by taking the punished action — they’re often just a slap on the wrist; it’s merely ‘the cost of doing business.’ That’s not so true about a lawsuit Meta finds itself in.

Attorneys General across 32 US states argue that Meta has used its technology to get teens (and younger) users hooked on its platforms — and that the company ignored the harms this action could cause. If Meta loses the suit, it could be on the hook for $1.4 trillion, roughly the value of its entire market capitalization (i.e., the combined value of all its shares).

Meta calls the AGs' claims "unsubstantiated" and the potential penalties "vastly disproportionate."

We don’t yet know how things will turn out, but be prepared for both sides to seriously fight their case in court.

• Read the full story: Meta might be on the hook for $1.4 trillion if it loses a landmark lawsuit

1. We reviewed the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold

We’ve finished testing Samsung’s latest foldables for our reviews, and we’ve moved on to Google. It’s the best folding Pixel yet, but still behind Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

It’s generally an excellent update, with a better, far lighter build, plus impressive power, efficiency, bright screens, IP68 protection, and (not to forget) the HiLight LED.

However, Google should have updated the camera experience with more megapixels and maybe somewhat better image processing if it wanted to give us a real boost.

• Read the full story: The Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the best folding Pixel yet

No matter if it's your first or fourth time here, thanks for checking out this week's TechRadar Crossword. Yes, I'm still having a lot of fun putting together these little puzzlers for you every Friday, so let's see how you get on with this latest grid-based arrangement of tech trivia.

I try to mix a fairly broad range of tech subjects into each crossword to ensure there's a bit of variety, but it does require a lot of effort to stop myself from filling them with clues about gaming and movies — being the two biggest interests of mine.

I have, obviously, snuck a couple of clues in on those areas, given we technically cover them here at TechRadar in our gaming and streaming categories, but I'm very cautious that I don't just fill the grid with clues in those areas.

Reading more of the site has helped me broaden my horizons a little when coming up with clues, too. I've taken in more of the news we've covered and features we've written about AI, cameras, electric vehicles, and, relevant to this week's puzzle, solar panels, for example.

The latter is most interesting, given the news that plug-in options will soon be available to buy in the UK before the end of the month. It's got me thinking about whether I could add some to my home, if it'll be possible to find any of the limited stock.

Solar panel stock tracker incoming? Quite possibly. Enjoy the puzzle and I'll catch you soon.

The summer bank holiday may still be over a week away, but that hasn't stopped Amazon from dropping an unusually high number of early deals across tech, appliances, essentials, toys, and more. I've searched through this weekend's latest batch of offers and picked out 26 of the best deals that I'd recommend.

• See all of this weekend's best deals at Amazon UK

Amazon devices make up a surprising number of this weekend's offers, so there are discounts available on Fire TV Sticks, Ring doorbells, and Fire tablets. Many of these have been cheaper during Prime Day and Black Friday, though, so while the savings of up to 40% are solid, we're far from record-low prices in some cases.

However, one standout deal is this Blink Outdoor 4 Camera and Video Doorbell for £34.99 (was £129.95). That's fantastic value for money for a beginner smart home bundle, and an easy-to-use first set if you're trying out the tech for the first time.

Other deals I like the look of include this Lenovo Chromebook Duet for £199.99 (was £349.99) that's ideal for students, the budget-friendly Fitbit Inspire 3 for £58.99 (was £84.99), and the fantastic Shokz Open Run Headphones for £94 (was £129.95).

You can check out all of my top picks below. While these offers aren't part of any official bank holiday sale at Amazon, I suspect that most will remain available over the next week or so, unless otherwise stated on the site.

26 best weekend deals at Amazon UK

You might be tempted to fall back on the usual Father's Day gifts, like novelty socks, a mug with a bad joke on it, whisky or aftershave, but there are plenty of more useful options. Father's Day 2026 in Australia falls on Sunday, September 6, so there's still time to find something he'll actually use.

If your dad, or a father figure in your life, loves tech and gadgets, these tried-and-tested products are some of our favourite Father's Day gift ideas. We've included tech gifts for Dad across a wide range of budgets and interests, from inexpensive everyday upgrades to some serious splurges.

We've focused on useful gifts we'd genuinely buy for our own dads, from AU$20 smart-home upgrades to big-ticket purchases like an outdoor pizza oven. Whether you're shopping for an outdoorsy dad, a coffee lover, a gamer or someone who'd rather stay on the couch, there should be something here to suit him.

The best Father's Day gifts for Dad under AU$100

We chose these picks for their functionality, value for money and whether we'd genuinely gift them to our own dads. From an AU$20 smart plug to a portable monitor for the home office, these 20 Father's Day gifts under AU$100 cover plenty of useful upgrades without requiring a big spend.

The best Father's Day tech gifts under AU$300

With a little more to spend, there are plenty of Father's Day gift ideas here, from a classic car Lego set and a Bluetooth turntable to a sleep analyser that sits under his mattress. We've even included a nice Android tablet and one of our highly-rated ebook readers that would be perfect for a father's downtime.

The best Father's Day gifts for Dad when money is no object

If you really want to splurge on a Father's Day gift, these big-ticket picks include some of the best tech we'd happily give our own dads.

You'll find that he may start playing the home barista every morning with a fancy new coffee machine or making more homemade pizzas with a new outdoor pizza oven. And if he's an avid runner or cyclist, we've added some premium-level gear here too.

Kids aren't the only ones who need new shoes for the school year. August is a perfect time to pick up a pair of sneakers, and Amazon's back-to-school sale is slashing prices on top-rated models from brands like Nike, Hoka, New Balance, Adidas, and Skechers.

Below are popular women's and men's running shoe models on sale, with savings up to 35% and prices starting at just $54. I've listed a wide range of athletic shoes, including extra support for runners and casual walking sneakers for everyday wear. Every model listed below is highly rated on Amazon, and some are included in our best running shoes guide.

You'll find links to popular sneaker brands below if you want to browse Amazon's site, followed by my pick of today's best back-to-school deals on running shoes. Keep in mind these are limited-time offers, and today's discount lets you kick off the new school year with a new (discounted) pair of shoes.

Amazon's back-to-school running shoe sale

• Nike running shoes
• Brooks running shoes
• New Balance running shoes
• Hoka running shoes
• Sketcher running shoes

The best Women's back-to-school running shoe deals

The best Men's back-to-school running shoe deals

Heading back to school and decided this is the year you hit the ground running with your studies? You'll want to equip yourself with the right kit to set yourself up for success. I'm talking about the little extras that will help you focus and improve your efficiency, whether you're studying in your dorm or out and about. Below, I've rounded up nine gadgets designed for just that — and all of them come in under $50.

For studying on the go, a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones will help nix background sounds, and a good power bank will ensure your gadgets don't run out of juice at an annoying time. Staying physically healthy is essential to keep your brain running at its best, so I've included a smart band to help you keep an eye on your sleep and fitness habits. You'll also find remote working peripherals like a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, which can make a huge difference to your comfort and efficiency levels when working on a laptop.

Read on for my sub-$50 study essentials — hit the 'View details' button to find out more about that product. And if you haven't sorted out your big tech purchases yet, we also have a guide to the best laptops for students.

Productivity essentials

Bump up the budget...

Got a slightly higher budget? These are the back-to-school extras I'd recommend in the $60-$100 price bracket...

• Head to Have I Been Flocked? to see if you've been looked up
• You can read the details and reasons for each search
• Your license plate registration is deleted after the search is run

There's been an increasing level of pushback against Flock and its network of 120,000 or so license plate readers across the US in recent months, and if you want to know if your vehicle has been the subject of a search on Flock's system, there's a website just for that.

Head over to Have I Been Flocked? (via Dexerto), enter your license plate registration, and you'll get a report back. The site has amassed details of more than 241 million Flock searches, covering over 4.6 million license plates.

What's more, you can also see the reason that a plate was searched for — an auto theft or a traffic stop, for example. The site has a word cloud showing reasons for searches across the entire database, with words like "drugs" and "burglary" featuring prominently.

There's lots more to explore across the website as well, including audit reports, reports of non-criminal activities, searches run in partnership with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and data on where the license plate readers are clustered.

Data collection and privacy

Have I Been Flocked? is the work of the independent editorial project Footnote4a, which reports on Flock's activities, the way that its technology is used, and the wider issues of mass surveillance and the privacy of citizens.

The extensive database has been compiled from audit logs released by local governments and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. It's not a complete history of Flock searches across every state, but it's still pretty comprehensive.

License plate registrations entered into the site aren't saved and are immediately deleted once the query is run. In addition, any sensitive personal information (like addresses) included in the audit logs is redacted.

"We believe mass surveillance has no place in a free society, and this data should not be collected to begin with," write the site's operators, adding that if it is collected, "warrants should be used" and "lookups should be rare" when accessing it.

This week Google debuted its Pixel 11 tech, and Honor wowed us with a Robot Phone. Though we doubt it's the next iPhone revolution, we did also celebrate the birthday of a phone that did spark one back in the 90s — the Nokia 9000 Communicator, which just turned 30 years old.

But that's enough nostalgia for now — to catch up on all of the freshest gadget news, scroll down for the seven biggest tech news stories from the past week, plus links to the wider picture if you're desperate to learn more.

And before that test your memory against last week's biggest tech news stories with our quiz.

7. We reviewed Garmin’s 5-Star smartwatch

We spent months with the latest Garmin Fenix Pro 8 smartwatch — it survived heatwaves, blizzards and 4,000m altitudes — and our reviewer decided to declare it “the pinnacle of multisport smartwatch performance.”

Why? Well, it boasts the full suite of Garmin functionality from sleep tracking to a bewildering array of activity tracking options, as well as the ability to follow stats like altitude and atmospheric pressure. Plus, it can operate as a full-on dive watch, and boasts satellite messaging for the extreme wilderness wanderers amongst us.

The only downside is that it costs significantly more than the AMOLED version and has a shorter battery life (it’s still four days, though, and turning the always-on display off will see it jump to over 10), but these don’t stop it from being the champion of the sports tracking world right now.

• Read our full Garmin Fenix Pro 8 microLED review

6. Spotify labelled AI music

Earlier this week, Spotify announced its new AI Persona tags, a new feature designed to differentiate human artists from those that are AI-generated. The tags are tipped to roll out in mid-September.

Once AI Persona becomes available, it will give users some peace of mind knowing that they’re listening to music that hasn't been generated by AI. Spotify added that artists with AI Persona tags will be excluded from all personalized recommendations by default — which is an added bonus.

Artists can disclose to Spotify if they are AI musicians, but Spotify will conduct reviews of profiles where it thinks an artist’s images have been created using generative AI to imitate a lifelike persona. The only caveat is that Spotify uses an artist’s image to determine if they’re an AI Persona, and not the music itself.

• Read more: Spotify is introducing AI Persona tags to differentiate real artists from fake ones

5. We spent two hours with Honor’s Robot Phone

Look. We love to call out marketing department hyperbole as much as the next tech news outlet, but while we must disagree with Honor’s attempt to position its new device as the evolutionary successor to the iPhone — the best-selling phone of all time — it is fair to say the Robot Phone is unlike anything we’ve seen before.

TechRadar’s Axel Metz was among the first tech journalists to touch and test the new phone, and the device’s unfolding gimbal is genuinely impressive as a content capture tool — effectively combining the DJI Osmo Pocket with Honor’s flagship Magic 8 Pro.

It also allows the phone’s assistant, YOYO, to express itself in a physical way. This is the definition of gimmicky, though controlling the gimbal with hands-free controls can be genuinely useful.

• Read more: I spent two hours with the Honor Robot Phone, and this ridiculous, remarkable device made me feel like a kid again

4. We photographed the solar eclipse

The peak of the Perseid meteor shower, with perfect viewing conditions and a rare six-planet alignment, was a celestial treat on August 12, but it was the total solar eclipse hours before that captured the world's attention. In select parts of Europe, northern Spain and in Iceland, totality lasted around 2 minutes while a partial eclipse could be seen as far afield as northern North America. Viewers lucky enough to get solar glasses could enjoy the phases around totality, while others came outside with their DIY pinhole cameras and colanders. Predictably, we've been treated to spectacular images in the aftermath of this once-in-a-generation show.

• Read more: 9 of the best photos from Europe's 2026 solar eclipse

3. Google gave us its answer to Apple’s AirTags

Apple’s AirTags launched over five years ago, and we now finally have a Google-made equivalent for Android fans. The Pixel Tag is a little tracker that weighs only 12g and helps you follow the location of your keys, luggage, or devices via a web browser or Android app.

Unfortunately, it won’t actually be launching until November, but when it does, you’ll be able to buy one for $29 / £29 / AU$49 for a single Tag or $99 / £99 / AU$169 for a four-pack. That’s pretty competitive considering the Pixel Tag is water-resistant and has ultra-wideband (UWB) support for more precise location tracking.

However, as you can read below, the Find Hub network still has weaknesses compared to its Apple Find My equivalent, which we hope Google addresses by the time its Tag launches in a few months.

• Read the full story: The Pixel Tag is here — but it won't be an AirTag for Android until Google fixes these Find Hub issues

2. Google’s Pixel Watch 5 debuted

Along with Google's cornucopia of new phones, the Google Pixel Watch 5 was also released in two sizes and with the same teardrop design as previous years. However, we've got a bunch of new features and improvements at play, with more accurate GPS, the redesigned Google Health app with its AI coach, better on-device Gemini, and a suite of Health Guardian features. These include Breathing Emergency Detection, which alerts emergency services and contacts if you have a consistent blood oxygen drop, and Insulin Resistance Trends, which helps users control their blood sugar levels. Apple and Samsung haven't quite cracked this technology yet, and we can't wait to test them for ourselves — although hopefully we don't have any breathing emergencies during our review.

• Read more: Sorry, Apple and Samsung — I test smartwatches for a living, and the Google Pixel Watch 5 specs beat the Series 11 and Galaxy Watch 9 in these five key areas

1. Google debuted its Pixel 11 lineup

Of course, the stars of Wednesday's Made by Google 2026 event were the debut of new Pixel 11 phones.

They boast the usual slew of updates you should expect from flagship refreshes by now, but also a brand new ‘HiLight’. This is an array of LED lights built into the camera’s flash module, which can alert you to calls from favorite contacts via customized color glows when your phone is face down and silenced. And these lights will also pulse when Gemini is listening, thinking, or responding.

Not everything is an improvement, disappointingly. You'll only get 12GB of RAM as standard rather than 16GB, perhaps a reflection of the surging computer memory costs.

• Read more: I’ve used the new Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL, and Google's made nearly all the improvements I wanted to see

Another Friday, and another weekly crossword is ready for you. Enjoy the latest tech-themed puzzle below, with several clues related to the biggest news from the past seven days, as well as some more general bits of tech trivia and nerdy pastimes.

Making these puzzles over the last few weeks has got me back into the cryptic crossword app I used to learn how they work and practise. It's a change from aimlessly scrolling through Reddit or mindlessly absorbing a YouTube video while on the bus and train.

One puzzle I seemed to have given up on halfway through, and it was good to see that I was able to pick it up and start answering clues fairly quickly. Some had probably stumped me in the past as well. Strange how going back to something some time later seems to unlock the solution so easily.

My puzzle fix has also been fulfilled with the brilliant Big Walk — a bizarre and abstract co-op puzzle and exploration game I've been playing through with a couple of friends. I absolutely love these sorts of games (Blue Prince and The Witness are some all-time favorites), so finding something similar that also allows for some shenanigans with mates has been really special.

All this cryptic puzzling does mean, though, that I've dabbled with a few more adventurous clues for the latest puzzle. There's nothing that's too out there, or even really cryptic in nature, but not everything is a straightforward clue asking for an answer. There are some gaps to fill or some slightly more roundabout ways they've been presented — and some will be easier to answer if you've read TechRadar regularly this week.

Enjoy the puzzle and I'll see you for another next week!

• Flock is making it harder for its systems to be abused
• Its CEO says the company's priority is public safety
• You can now 3D print a Flock Sock to disable cameras near you

Flock knows that its license plate readers and other surveillance tech are facing a substantial backlash from citizens and privacy groups, and it's now rolling out upgraded safety guardrails to protect against its systems from being misused — while CEO Garrett Langley says "we're not Big Brother".

That line comes from an interview with Bloomberg, in which Langley says his company's cameras are built to improve public safety and reduce crime. They're also now going to be subject to tighter restrictions, including more controls over the information that Flock's customers can share with other agencies.

Data logged by the license plate readers will now be kept for 7 days rather than 30 by default, Flock says, while the recently introduced Audit Assistance tool — which watches out for "abnormal activity" on Flock systems — will be made compulsory rather than optional. Accounts involved in this activity will be automatically suspended, too.

In addition, specific case codes will be required for law enforcement searches, and Flock is improving the security protocols around its data. The company also says it's committing to making its privacy policies easier to understand, and being more transparent about how its systems are being used.

In a separate interview with CNN, Langley said "I'm sorry the system has failed you" in response to a question asking him for his message to people who feel they've been victimized by the company's technology. "I'm sorry that you no longer trust the police department that's job is to protect you" he added.

Those arguments aren't winning over an increasingly vocal number of skeptics, who feel the technology remains prone to misuse — and fear it could clear a path to even more powerful surveillance tools like SignalTrace, which can identify devices that are in cars even if the license plate number isn't visible.

Unlawful tracking

As highlighted by rights organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Flock cameras have previously been used for purposes outside their approved remit: to track protestors, for example, and women seeking abortions. Police officers have also used the tech to stalk people they've been in a relationship with.

Whether these latest changes will help remains to be seen. Flock's 120,000 license plate readers are now being used by some 6,000 law enforcement agencies and around 1,000 private companies (including FedEx), and the company is also making moves into other areas, such as drones for first responders.

Meanwhile, a sizable number of the general public aren't too happy at having their license plates scanned and logged automatically. There have been numerous reports of Flock cameras being smashed up or otherwise disabled in protest, amid worries that the surveillance capabilities of this network go way beyond crime prevention.

One enterprising inventor has even gone as far as making a 'Flock Sock', a 3D-printed design that you can pop over a license plate reader to stop it from recording anything. Rather cleverly though, it's marketed as a way of protecting these cameras from sunlight: "The very least you can do is help protect these valuable civil servants from getting a bad sunburn."

In a few short hours, parts of the Earth will experience a rare and wonderful sight: a full solar eclipse. The moon will squeeze between us and the sun so that Spain, in particular, will, for a few minutes, fall into almost total darkness. What won't happen is that humans and other stationary objects not bolted to the ground will float up into the air. Gravity won't disappear.

But that's not the full story.

Listen, I ended up diving down a rabbit hole this morning, a journey triggered by one Weather Channel post on Threads:

"You all know we’re not actually going to lose gravity for 7 seconds today right? It’s important to me that you know that."

Turns out that there is a wild conspiracy theory going around that the eclipse will somehow trigger a gravity disruption, basically canceling it for 7 seconds.

The rumor was apparently set off, in part, by a TikTok claiming NASA had something called "Project Anchor" addressing the phenomenon.

NASA quickly quashed the rumor, telling Snopes:

"The Earth will not lose gravity on Aug. 12, 2026. Earth's gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass. The only way for the Earth to lose gravity would be for the Earth system, the combined mass of its core, mantle, crust, ocean, terrestrial water, and atmosphere, to lose mass. A total solar eclipse has no unusual impact on Earth's gravity. The gravitational attraction of the Sun and Moon on the Earth, which doesn't impact Earth's total gravity, but does impact tidal forces, is well understood and is predictable decades in advance."

Let's talk about the pendulum anomoly

So that settles it, and I think we can all rest easy that our feet will be firmly planted on the ground today, tomorrow, and beyond.

On the other hand, the concept of a solar eclipse having some nominal effects on gravity or the movement of objects affected by gravity is not totally out of the question, and the existence of such anomalies may explain why some people have extrapolated a wildly exaggerated solar eclipse gravitational impact.

There have been various reports over the decades of eclipses impacting, for instance, the swing of pendulums (according to New Scientist, the anomaly was first spotted in 1954). In fact, there have been some scholarly studies going back at least 25 years on the phenomenon.

In 1999, Chris P. Duif, then a physicist with the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands, produced a scholarly paper examining, among other things, why certain pendulums reportedly altered their swings during a pair of solar eclipses.

Duif's paper notes that there were "weak conventional explanations" but added that the anomalies could still be "assigned to mundane causes such as temperature changes. "

In the end, though, Duif's research did not confirm the impact; equally, he seemed unable to rule it out. As he told New Scientist in 2009, "I'm not really convinced the anomaly exists, but it would be revolutionary if it turned out to be true."

In the paper, Duif appeared to hope for more study, writing, "If an anomalous eclipse effect does exist, a clever combination of experiments and input from theoretical models will be necessary to reveal its existence." One has to wonder if AI could assist in this pursuit. After all, it is quite good at finding meaning in the vast amounts of data typically found in such models.

The point is that there's this persistent idea that solar eclipses can affect gravity and that, it seems, has perpetuated and ballooned, with the help of conspiracy theorists, into this wild idea of a total gravitational pause. But, as The Weather Channel and NASA will quickly remind you, that's simply not the case.